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Showing 1 of 41 conversations about:
Cayin HA-1A Headphone Amp
db2793
10
Jul 22, 2020
just so everyone's aware, this amp is almost 15 years old. Not gonna say anything about it's quality, but this not a recent product
Pmtski45
61
Jul 22, 2020
db2793Just because this came out 15 years ago doesn't make it bad. It's an amp.
AudioJet
318
Jul 22, 2020
db2793When you're 20 years old 15 years ago seems like an long time ago but when you're 60 it was just the other day. I've been using BeyerDynamic DT880s since the early 1980s and they are still great today. Yes tech changes over time but good sound reproduction is still good sounding.
db2793
10
Jul 22, 2020
Pmtski45Yeah, which is exactly why I said that I wouldn't comment on the quality. But amps have improved a lot in recent years and potential consumers should be aware. Commenting on the age is also relevant because the advertised price is misleading. The newer version of this product sells for $729.
(Edited)
LIBY555
192
Jul 22, 2020
db2793Vacuum tubes were invented 70 years ago. These analog things, same as turntables, can't get "old".
Retail value is another story.
ElectronicVices
2937
Jul 22, 2020
db2793Wut?, tubes have been pretty consistent for many decades, this just isn't true. Also the last amp "breakthrough" is a couple of decades old at this point, older than most people I've seen make this claim. The THX modules are just well executed examples of a design philosophy that's been around for a very long time, low bias class A/B with feedback and a switching power supply.
Khronus
79
Jul 22, 2020
Pmtski45Speakers made 50 years ago are still competitive today. Tube amplifiers too. Solid state has regressed because of lack of SIT transistor manufacturers even though Class D can still sound nice enough.
Though sadly, the snobs these days have taken over the market. So there's that.
Unlike computer equipment, audio does not change much. Cellulose-coned High-Voltage field coils are still king after nearly a hundred years.
(Edited)
rastus
1391
Jul 23, 2020
KhronusHow about vacuum transistors?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/phys.org/news/2017-04-vacuum-channel-transistor-combines-semiconductors.amp
MEMS speakers are here, more every month now it seems:
https://www.anandtech.com/show/15894/xmems-announces-worlds-first-monolithic-mems-speaker
(Edited)
Khronus
79
Jul 23, 2020
rastusThe problem with transistors is that they are capacitors. Meaning they will "smear" the signal and create shifts of higher order harmonics; inducing fatigue.
Mems sounds nice in theory, though it will be a pain to tame the natural resonances that come with that design. Plus the use of a chip could introduce other problems at the software level.
The answer to the age old question is Cone-like Ribbon Drivers driven by Field Coils. After all, the fieldcoild will extrude a constant magnetic field notwithstanding of the electrical feedback performed by the voice coil- like how AlNiCo can be demagnetized with Electronic Music if not treated. The problem with ribbons is their need for a high amperage for the excitation of the voice coil (after all, ribbons are just a voice coil that moves with a magnet system (see: Raal SR-1A), besides their unnaturally low impendance. Both fixable with some electrical engineering magic. A cone, of course, to recreate a soundwave well, after all, they are fractal round in nature; meaning a square or similar figure will induce distortions as you approach the borders. And while it could be argued an oval figure could do well, it will simply not work in IEM's nor closed headphones while requiring a ridiculous size to produce any low end. Therefore, a cone will work well, as a well-designed 9" single Driver Open baffle can create good bass down to mid 20s.
carboncarousel
39
Jul 24, 2020
db2793Thanks for the heads up. However, I'm currently using a Stax SRM-1/Mk-2 amp, and Stax SR 404 headphones. Both of these out-age this amp by a considerable margin... and they sound damn good. The capacitors have been replaced on the amp, though.
Pmtski45
61
Jul 26, 2020
KhronusI have a 25 year old receiver (Sony) and Speakers (Infinity Bookshelf) that still work to this day. As long as it's a quality product, it should last a very long time, with proper use.
Khronus
79
Jul 26, 2020
Pmtski45Like I said, Audio does not change much unlike Computer equipment.
Also, if it's a V-FET Sony, that means it's a SIT Transistor Amplifier. Very damn good with some capacitor mods, plus, Japanese Engineering should ensure it lasts a lifetime. Wonderful.
As for the speakers, technology has not changed much since Magnepan was created. So maybe a capacitor change on the crossover should ensure these keep sounding wonderful for the next 25 years (they degrade over time).
rastus
1391
Jul 27, 2020
KhronusThere are always going to be issues with MEMS scale as well, resonant/materials etc., no difference in problems. There are others trying to find the best solution, in the MEMS tech and the application,, so important...
These folks are a hybrid type piezo/elastomer: https://www.usound.com/technology/ Also a hybrid in application, spatial satellites & a 'woofer': https://www.usound.com/product/taygete/. These folks I have also been watching, though not any new activity: http://www.audiopixels.com.au/index.cfm/technology/
If you want small and conventional coils, these have been made in the form of coils in thin film heads for HDD's, by many folks like Seagate for years, they have patents on using that tech for audio transducers as well, US20090316937A1, "abandoned",, who know the story there.
I got a set of the USound eval IEM's, wanted to know if going to make it... details are amazing, like having "Whoville" in your ears- like everybody, just needs the lows, hybrid req. MEMS are part of the future, on the speaker side of transducers as well, starting as a component. https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/usound-gmbh/UA-E-1030/2000-1002-ND/9598593
(Edited)
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